Abuse - awful matter involving a learner (8)
I believe the answer is:
maltreat
'abuse' is the definition.
('maltreat' can be a synonym of 'abuse')
'awful matter involving a learner' is the wordplay.
'awful' is an anagram indicator.
'involving' indicates putting letters inside.
'learner' becomes 'l'.
'matter' with letters rearranged gives 'mtreat'.
'a'+'l'='al'
'mtreat' enclosing 'al' is 'MALTREAT'.
(Other definitions for maltreat that I've seen before include "Behave badly towards on late tram" , "Be cruel towards" , "Act badly or cruelly towards someone" , "Harm" , "Use roughly" .)